Dunfermline Athletic 0 - 3 Aberdeen

Aberdeen almost made a sensational start straight from the kick off as Scott Severin hit a great effort from the half way line that had De Vries scrambling across the line and colliding with his upright as he kept the ball out. Daquin almost capitalised on a mistake from Anderson in the 5th minute but Hart moved across to save his skipper's blushes as both sides looked to settle. Langfield was called into action in the 7th minute when he held a Labonte effort then immediately released Mackie, who took a poor first touch and was forced wide.

At this stage the match was being slowed by a fussy referee who constantly pulled back play. Miller flicked a Severin free kick on in the 13th minute but the striker got too much on the ball and it drifted wide. Then a minute later De Vries made a great save to deny Chris Clark who had steered a Dempsey cross towards the back post. Dunfermline then went close in the 17th minute when Muirhead burst through and hit a 20-yard effort that was tipped over by Langfield for the first corner of the match. The resulting corner found Muirhead again at the back post but the ex-Don failed to keep the ball on target.

A second corner for Aberdeen was cleared in the 33rd minute before Dempsey went close two minutes later. Five minutes from the break Aberdeen won a soft free kick and the keeper held Severin's effort fairly easily as the Dons looked for the breakthrough. Four minutes later Dunfermline won a similar free kick but similarly wasted the chance as the ball went long and drifted out for a goal kick. In the final seconds Nicholson had a pot at goal but it drifted over the bar as the referee ended the first half.

Aberdeen started well and carved out a chance in the 47th minute when Clark was released, but good defending by Wilson forced the Dons man wide. Aberdeen had started positively and won a free kick in the 51st minute that earned a yellow card for Scott Morrison. The subsequent set play was poorly defended and Miller looked to swivel and shoot but was eventually crowded out. Miller made no mistake three minutes later when he cashed in on a mistake by Shields on his 18 yard line allowing Miller to step forward and drill the ball past De Vries.

Hamilton then replaced Muirhead in the 69th minute as the home side looked to beef up their attack. The Dons were relying on the break and Foster had a chance in the 84th minute when he broke, but a heavy touch as he tried to go past Shields halted the move. A free kick a minute later was wasted but Mackie added a second in the 83rd minute when he took advantage of a mistake from Wilson and calmly fired into the corner of the net. Aberdeen then sealed the win with a third goal four minutes from time.

Dunfermline had won a free kick on the edge of the Dons penalty area and sent everyone up. They made a mess of the set play and Aberdeen raced up the park and Darren Mackie grabbed his second brace in as many games to seal the win. Maguire then replaced Miller in the 88th minute with the job completed. Langfield caused a few flutters in the final minute when he came for a ball and missed it completely as the ball ended on the roof of the net. Severin had a chance to make it four in the closing stages, but failed to connect properly.

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